CCAC Nursing school or possibly one of the others?

♑ Capricorn ♑ · Jan 3, 2012

I've been trying to call some of the hospital nursing schools but haven't gotten any responces. Anyone know if they offer evening or weekend classes? Are my previous classes from CCAC transferable? Do I need pre-reqs for those schools as well? Any information is greatly appreciated.

You'd need to contact the hospital school of nursing you wish to attend to find out if they will transfer. I know some hospital school's of nursing do offer night classes but i'm not familiar enough with your area as to what ones will. What hospital school are you looking at?

Newme17 · Jan 3, 2012

I haven't done too much research yet because I really thought CCAC was gonna work. I live in the South Hills of Pittsburgh and I know there are tons of Nursing Schools around just really don't know how to start. I gave birth at West Penn and loved that hospital. I did call them but haven't gotten a responce. I'm not surprised since the holidays were just here. I'm going to be online the rest of the week trying to figure this out.

pixiestudent2 · Jan 4, 2012

i highly suggest that you contact Shadyside school of nursing, they have no prereqs but you can attend CCAC to knock some of your co-reqs out. they have a part time evening and weekend program and a full time daylight program.

and just to add, before you start paying money to attend school you should probably learn a little more about nursing, this seems like a pretty quick decision by just one experiance giving birth...

no judgement though!

good luck :heartbeat:nurse:

Newme17 · Jan 4, 2012

I know it seams strange that I would want to become a nurse after going through childbirth. I had to have an emergency c-section so I got to see a lot more of the hospital then I was prepared for. What amazed me the most was how happy everyone was. I'm sure its not all fun and games but what I saw I liked. Currently I work 9-5 Mon-Fri but I want something that is more flexible and more rewarding so I can spend the most time with my family. I don't mind working weekends and actually wouldn't be opposed to overnights. Thank you for your input though. I will check in to Shadyside School of Nursing.

pixiestudent2 · Jan 4, 2012

no not strange at all!

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jan 6, 2012

Moved to Pennsylvania nursing programs forum.

horrorxgirl · Jan 8, 2012

So they are telling you that you need to have the bio done before applying instead of having it done before the program starts? I am an LPN that is doing prereqs at CCAC and our requirements are a little different. We have to have a lot more of our prereqs done before being able to do the nursing program because of having advanced placement. However, I was worried about not having my Microbiology done before applying to the program, although it would definitely be done before the actual nursing program started. I was told to call Amber Reed in the nursing department and clarify and she told me that it would not be a problem, as long as it was done before the program started. However, like I said, it may be different when it comes to Bio.

On a side note, if you do have to wait to apply to the program it doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. Many of the people in that program have finished most of their coreqs, specifically the A&P classes before the nursing program starts because these classes require a lot of work and it is difficult to do them and do the nursing program simultaneously, although it is possible. My sister goes to the accelerated program at the Boyce Campus and took A&P2 during the first nursing semester and although she got through it, she said it was hell. If I were you, I would knock out as many coreqs as possible during your wait, and then you can focus solely on the nursing aspect of the program when you start it.

Patti_RN · Jan 9, 2012

I agree with the advice you got Sali22 that nursing isn't something to be done on a whim. What you see, as a patient, is far, far different than the reality of being a nurse. And, Labor and Delivery is tough to break into as a new grad; hospitals often want BSN trained nurses, and nurses with years of experience, elsewhere. It's also a tough specialty; very demanding, sometimes stressful and sometimes heartbreaking. It's like most hospital jobs, shift work, weekends, holidays, double shifts, etc. You may be working different shifts with different days off, but it will rarely be YOUR choice--when the schedule is posted you find out when you're working (although some places are self-scheduled, but remember, everyone wants Christmas morning off... Thanksgiving... Fourth of July...)

OK... so you made it this far. If you do go to nursing school, you'll find it very difficult to attend nursing school, and care for with a baby (who will be walking, exploring and needing attention) and be employed (even part-time). Nursing school is no picnic; it's the hardest program I ever did (and that includes law school and graduate business school!) To be really successful, you need to spend a lot of time studying, writing care plans, and preparing for clinicals... plus doing the clinical rotations and going to classes. Honest, it's grueling... and that's without working or having a small child to care for.

So... you're still interested? Good... nursing is a great job, full of wonderful opportunities. The most direct way to go from zero to RN is a diploma school. Shadyside Hospital, St. Margaret's Hospital, McKeesport Hospital and other hospital affiliates have programs that take about two years to complete. There are some differences between them: some require you to have prereqs like A&P, Micro, Psychology, etc., completed before you start. Others incorporate those in the program. Some require chemistry, others don't. You probably won't finish any sooner if you already have those courses completed, it will simply lighten your course load. All require an entrance exam, which seems not to be much of a predictor of graduation from nursing school. I thought the entrance exam was ridiculously easy; I scored above the 98th percentile in every section, but nursing school was really difficult (at least difficult to do well in--and simply passing should never be the goal). In many nursing schools the graduation rate is very, very low; sometimes less than half of those who begin end up graduating. This is, in part, because students seriously underestimate the commitment and work that nursing school demands. It also seems that the requirements for admission are unrealistically low (like the admission test being far too easy, and not having a higher GPA requirement from high school or college classes).

My suggestion for a program is to find one that is close to your house and where the clinicals will also be close. Commuting an hour each way adds a lot of wasted time to your day. The differences in these programs aren't enough to make up for an extra 10 hours in the car, each week. Every moment will be precious. You want to FINISH the program, not just find one that other people recommend. (And, students who suggest their school don't have a point of reference--they have no idea what other nursing programs are like, so don't pick XYZ Nursing School because a graduate of that program raved about it).

The schools I'm familiar with get tons of calls each day. Go to their websites, get the information, compare the programs, find out how to apply and what requirements you need for admission. Most all the information is on the web-sites and most have some informational sessions for perspective students. Learn when and where and attend it. (A friend is the director of a nursing school and she hears complaints that perspective students "can't find a babysitter" or, "don't have a ride" so therefore can't attend the info session... she wonders, "if they can't make it here for a two-hour, important pre-application session, how will they ever attend school?!?!") Don't expect someone to spend a half hour on the phone with you answering the same questions every applicant has--get that info from the website, from the catalog (they'll mail you one, just leave your name and address in a voice message or request through their website) or from attending an informational session.

Best of luck to you.

alexis52 · Feb 29, 2012

I am currently in the CCAC South program. Go see a couselor. You want to take all of your sciences before you start the actual nursing classes. It will increase your chances of being more successful in the program. I did it, and I work full time. If I had to throw the science classes on top of it all, I dont know if I would have even passed the first semester. I would avoid going to a hospital nursing school. They are very expensive. South is priced well and they are the hardest. But they also have the highest pass rate on the state boards.

sewnmom, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · May 8, 2012

It is very competitive to get a slot. If you have your co-reqs done, you get points for those. When they had the pax test it was gpa plus pax then bonus for bio 161, 162 and 175. Now they take your GPA and the bonus for those three classes. My daughter had a 4.0 and didnt have the co-reqs done (she will be the time she starts the program in the fall of 12) and she got in but not to her first or second choice. Those that had the co-reqs done got preference. It really is not a bad thing to have them done early and only have the nursing classes finished.

I am finishing my first year at Allegheny day program this week. It is rigorous. I have taken a bio class with 101 and with 102. It was not fun but doable.

Keep plugging away.